The use of inhaled mannitol in the diagnosis and management of asthma

TY - JOUR

T1 - The use of inhaled mannitol in the diagnosis and management of asthma

AU - Sverrild, Asger

AU - Porsbjerg, Celeste

AU - Backer, Vibeke

PY - 2012/1

Y1 - 2012/1

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a key feature of asthma and can be assessed by the use of bronchial provocation tests. A test using inhaled dry powder mannitol for diagnosing asthma is now regulatory approved in 20 countries. AREAS COVERED: This paper reviews the literature on inhaled mannitol from the first publication in 1997 until present (October 2011). It discusses the current knowledge on the clinical usefulness as a tool for diagnosing and managing asthma. EXPERT OPINION: Inhaled mannitol can be regarded as a safe, standardized, specific, but less sensitive, tool for the diagnosis of asthma in both children and adults. Discomfort, in terms of cough, during the test occurs in 85.3% of subjects, but rarely (1.3%) leads to discontinuation. Headache (6.1%), pharyngolaryngeal pain (2.6%) and cough (1.3%) are the most frequent adverse events that occur on the day of the test. The test holds several advantages compared with existing tests; there is no need for additional equipment (i.e., a nebulizer) besides a spirometer; it requires no cleaning and has only one standard operating protocol. In a new study using mannitol for monitoring mild and moderate persistent asthma in primary care, the number of mild exacerbations was reduced.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is a key feature of asthma and can be assessed by the use of bronchial provocation tests. A test using inhaled dry powder mannitol for diagnosing asthma is now regulatory approved in 20 countries. AREAS COVERED: This paper reviews the literature on inhaled mannitol from the first publication in 1997 until present (October 2011). It discusses the current knowledge on the clinical usefulness as a tool for diagnosing and managing asthma. EXPERT OPINION: Inhaled mannitol can be regarded as a safe, standardized, specific, but less sensitive, tool for the diagnosis of asthma in both children and adults. Discomfort, in terms of cough, during the test occurs in 85.3% of subjects, but rarely (1.3%) leads to discontinuation. Headache (6.1%), pharyngolaryngeal pain (2.6%) and cough (1.3%) are the most frequent adverse events that occur on the day of the test. The test holds several advantages compared with existing tests; there is no need for additional equipment (i.e., a nebulizer) besides a spirometer; it requires no cleaning and has only one standard operating protocol. In a new study using mannitol for monitoring mild and moderate persistent asthma in primary care, the number of mild exacerbations was reduced.

U2 - 10.1517/14656566.2012.638917

DO - 10.1517/14656566.2012.638917

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22118547

SN - 1465-6566

VL - 13

SP - 115

EP - 123

JO - Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy

JF - Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy

IS - 1

ER -